Editing Kalamazoo College (section)

==Student life and traditions==

Student organizations are one of the main sources of entertainment for the student body. They routinely bring in speakers as well as stage performances, dances, and movie showings.

During the fall quarter, there are two main events: K Fest and the [[Homecoming]] dance. At K Fest, student organizations provide activities for the students, such as pumpkin carving and bobbing for apples.

During the winter quarter, the college holds the annual Monte Carlo night, on which the student body raises money by gambling in a makeshift casino where the professors are the dealers. They play for scrip redeemable for prizes.

===Pride Ball (formerly Crystal Ball)===
Kaleidoscope (formerly known as the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Ally Student Organization, GLBTSO) hosted the Crystal Ball each spring. Crystal Ball was a college-sponsored dance in which attendees would dress in drag or unusual costumes. A long-standing tradition at Kalamazoo, this event was created to educate the campus about GLBT issues and celebrate the persons who make up the GLBT community. In Spring of 2016 the Crystal Ball was renamed Pride Ball.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://reason.kzoo.edu/studentactivities/events/zooafterdark/?event_id=389279&date=2016-05-07|title=Office of Student Involvement: Zoo After Dark: Zoo After Dark: Pride Ball with Kaleidoscope. Kalamazoo College|website=reason.kzoo.edu|access-date=2016-05-09}}</ref> The tradition continues in most other aspects; it is still hosted by the same club and attendees are still encouraged to don attire that thoughtfully represents or challenges their gender identity. This popular event features live music, dancing, and contests.

===The Quad===
The campus is built around a grassy hill known as "The Quad." The Quad is also the site of numerous large-scale events throughout the year, including Homecoming, Spring Fling, Convocation, and Commencement. At the top of the hill sits Stetson Chapel, a favorite location for alumni wedding services. The bell tower holds the only peal of [[change ringing]] bells in Michigan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dove.cccbr.org.uk/dove.php?searchString=MI&numPerPage=10&searchCountry=USA&searchDiocese=&searchPracN=&searchRingable=&searchBells=&searchNote=&searchAmount==&searchWeight=&searchMetric=cwt&searchDetails=&searchGF=&searchSimulator=&searchToilet=&Submit=Go&sortBy=Place&sortDir=Asc|title=Dove's Guide Search|website=dove.cccbr.org.uk|access-date=2019-05-15}}</ref> They were all cast in 1983 at [[Whitechapel Bell Foundry|Whitechapel]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dove.cccbr.org.uk/detail.php?searchString=MI&numPerPage=10&searchCountry=USA&searchAmount==&searchMetric=cwt&Submit=Go&sortBy=Place&sortDir=Asc&DoveID=KALAMAZOO|title=Dove Details|website=dove.cccbr.org.uk|access-date=2019-05-15}}</ref>

The Quad is home to another popular Kalamazoo College student tradition, "streaking the Quad," a noisy, late-night descent in the nude from the chapel, down the hill, and back to the top again. Tradition dictates that students must touch the school sign before returning to the top. There is a mass streak after the spring performance by Frelon, the Kalamazoo College dance group, and also during the day by the senior class. This often coincides with a wedding.

===Day of Gracious Living===
Since 1974, the college has upheld a springtime tradition of canceling all classes for a "Day of Gracious Living" (DOGL). While it was originally instituted (despite the Student Commission's rejection) as a day for students to relax and have fun, the [[1980 Kalamazoo tornado]] prompted students to spend that year's DOGL helping clean up after the storm and giving back to their community.  Many students enjoy the day at the North Beach in [[South Haven, Michigan|South Haven]], Michigan. The date is determined by the president of the Student Commission and kept secret from the student body, though it is usually on a Wednesday during weeks 7–9. On the morning of the Day of Gracious Living, the bells of [[Stetson Chapel]] ring, announcing the day to the student body.<ref name="Time-Travel: History of Kalamazoo College">[http://www.kzoo.edu/college/history/topic.php?id=dogl "Time-Travel: History of Kalamazoo College"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101105190204/http://kzoo.edu/college/history/topic.php?id=dogl |date=2010-11-05 }}, Kalamazoo College. Retrieved 2010-09-19.</ref>

===Recycling program===
Kalamazoo College has become a leading institution in the area of recycling and environmental awareness. A crew of student workers operates one of the nation's most successful recycling programs and organizes the school's participation in the annual [[RecycleMania]] event, a competition among over 400 colleges and universities across the United States. In 2005, Kalamazoo College came to national prominence with a 3rd-place finish in the Grand Champion category.  While annually placing in the top five in a variety of categories, in 2008 Kalamazoo College placed first in both the Grand Champion and Stephen K. Gaski Per Capita Classic competitions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.recyclemaniacs.org/blog.html/ |title=RecycleMania 2008 Final Results |access-date=2008-06-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609042213/http://www.recyclemaniacs.org/blog.html |archive-date=2008-06-09 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Sustainability===
Kalamazoo College signed the President's Climate Commitment in 2007 and has completed a [[greenhouse gas emissions|greenhouse gas emission]] inventory.<ref>{{cite web|title=ACUPCC Kalamazoo College |publisher=American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment |url=http://acupcc.aashe.org/index.php?abs=&q=Kalamazoo%20College |access-date=2009-06-29}}</ref> The college's Hicks Student Center is partially powered by wind and solar energy,<ref>{{cite web|title=Hicks Student Center |publisher=Kalamazoo College |url=http://www.kzoo.edu/green/index.php?p=hicks |access-date=2009-06-29}}</ref> and the student group D.I.R.T. (Digging in Renewable Turf) maintains an organic garden on campus.<ref>{{cite web|title=Orange, Black, & Green |publisher=Kalamazoo College |url=https://reason.kzoo.edu/green/campusinitiatives/food/organicgarden/ |access-date=2009-06-29}}</ref> The spring 2009 Energy Sting competition encouraged students to reduce their energy consumption.<ref>{{cite web|title=Orange, Black, & Green 2009 K-College Energy Sting |publisher=Kalamazoo College |url=https://reason.kzoo.edu/green/campusinitiatives/es/ |access-date=2009-06-29}}</ref> Kalamazoo received a B on the 2010 College Sustainability Report Card.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://greenreportcard.org/report-card-2010/schools/kalamazoo-college |title=Green Report Card |access-date=2010-05-01 |archive-date=2010-05-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100506013835/http://www.greenreportcard.org/report-card-2010/schools/kalamazoo-college |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Beginning Band Methods===
One of Kalamazoo's most popular courses is "Beginning Band Methods", with over 100 students enrolling annually. Open to all students, including those with no musical experience, the courses train them to play brass and woodwind instruments. At the end of the term, the students perform a public concert.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sw-ke.facebook.com/KalamazooCollege/videos/nine-weeks-ago-most-kalamazoo-college-beginning-band-methods-class-members-didnt/2253252514744540/ |title=Nine weeks ago, most Kalamazoo College Beginning Band Methods students didn't know how to hold their instruments. |website=Facebook|publisher=Kalamazoo College|date=June 3, 2019 |access-date=June 9, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/kcollege/status/1661739235966324742?s=20 |website=Twitter|publisher=Kalamazoo College |title=Beginning Band Methods May 2023 Concert |date=May 25, 2023|access-date=June 9, 2023}}</ref>